Tag Archives: HBR

I find Lorde as an artist quite interesting. This write-up was beautifully written and reminded me again of how smart Lorde is in the way she approaches her music. I remember reading once about Britney Spears who said that writing pop music was hard –really hard. And while it’s easy and trendy to sometimes make fun of it, there is a real artistry to it, and those who can master it, have done something brilliant with it, they have something special. It stayed with me because I had not really thought much of it –pop is so plentiful, anyone can do it, right? She set me straight. And Lorde gets that too.

The first phrase on the list? Ask, “How can I be a better leader?” —this is one of those simple stop and BE PRESENT type of phrases and it seems so simple it’s easy to gloss over. But when faced with a trying situation, I challenge you to use it because it’s brilliant in making you pause and reflect and I find you can usually come up with an answer pretty quickly. The trick? Put yourself in the other person’s shoes and ask what would they need or want from you? This phrase is one of my favorites to use as a parent. When your child is going wild and you’re about to lose it yourself, ask how you can be a better parent. I know it instantly calms me…because it’s not really about me at all. It’s always about how you can be there for them.

Another parenting one, forgive me, I’m a working mother to a toddler and sometimes it’s all consuming! And while yes, yes, I’m always tired, I try really hard to remember that I used to say I was always tired even before I have kids. My child sleeps through the night…it’s not about restful sleep (or at least, it’s not all about that), it’s about the go-go-go of life. And when I fret about not having time time I desire for hobbies or personal passions, it is too easy to fall into the trap of thinking of if I wasn’t a parent I could get all of these done. But let’s be real, I used to watch a lot of television.

I love my neighborhood here in Logan Square and the development these last few years has been crazy. It feels like every time I walk down the street I see something new popping up and yes, they do tend to be bars. However, as the article points out, there’s plenty of space if you come willing to do your own thing.

Watching the inauguration I felt the same wave of dread I felt when Trump was announced the winner last year. I haven’t always liked who was elected but this feels different. I do feel worried and I can’t tell if I’m being paranoid or if this too shall pass. Right now it feels like it can’t pass quickly enough. In the meantime, I’m rather not be complacent and this list from Timothy Snyder is worth a read.

A few things stood out for me:

Always have a passport at the ready. I’ve always stood by this. But I realized today, my two-year-old daughter still needs one. Now may be the time…

Subscribe to print media. This week I signed up for three separate news outlets that are behind a subscription firewall. I wanted to keep telling myself that news should be free, but real journalism needs funding and so I am doing my small part. I hope you consider doing so too.

For consideration…one of the comments at the end of the article reads: “I would suggest that all the people saying “wait and see, maybe he will not be so bad” are practicing anticipatory obedience. Those people must be refuted at every opportunity.” What do you think?

I’m usually the one in the office raising my hand and asking “why” when the rest of the room is silent. I don’t know if dissent is an obligation, but I’ve always felt questioning is –either because you don’t understand or because you think others don’t (or maybe just haven’t thought through everything)….

“The main principle was that drug education doesn’t work because nobody pays attention to it. What is needed, are the life skills to act on that information.” – Harvey Milkman, American psychology professor who teaches at Reykjavik University.